Oakley chase down Renhold at Bedfordshire League summit

Peter Francis

AFC Oakley M&DH closed the gap on Renhold United at the top of the table to just three points on Saturday - with a game in hand.

in taking their unbeaten home run to nine games with a 5-1 victory over bottom side Elstow Abbey they are in touching distance of leaders Renhold United in the Premier Division supported by Sportsform with the luxury of having played a game less and boasting a much better goal difference.

It was the Abbey who netted first via Lucas Banton in the 25th minute before Shaun Barnett with a brace, plus single strikes from Ali Smith, Jason Goldman and Jack Hodgstraten, won the day for the home side.

Still living in hope that the top two clubs will slip up are third place Wilstead who chalked up win number five on the bounce and took their unbeaten run to eight with a 4-1 win at second from bottom of the table Eastcotts AFC.

Stuart Robson, Kevin Butler, Paul Jones and Jack Downes all found the back of the net against one in reply from Luke Hyde for the home side.

For fourth place Flitwick Town it was home win number four on the bounce to extend their unbeaten ways to six games with a 4-2 victory over Sandy. Martin Byrne, Liam Keane, Josh Reynolds and Chris Bull all marked their scoresheet against a brace in reply from Matt Clark. Sandy were to end the day a man short following a red card for Sam Evans.

Having won their last four home games Cranfield United failed to bring up the nap hand when beaten 3-2 by third from bottom Caldecote who returned to winning ways for the first time in 11 starts. Daniel Fennel, Sam Julian and Mokbul Ali scored the vital goals against United replies from Robert White and Martin Holland.

Also enjoying life on the road were now sixth place Marston Shelton Rovers who took their unbeaten ways up to six games when winning 3-2 at Shefford Town & Campton, Jamie Cerminara netting twice and Dale Maiciw once against a brace in reply from Town’s Jamie Osbourne.

Elsewhere for tenth place Ickwell & Old Warden it was a 5-1 home victory over fifth place AFC Kempston Town & Bedford College. Ben Robinson netted twice alongside single strikes from Lee Threadgold, Conor Green and Ricky Aris to bring up the nap hand against a lone Town reply from Taylor Bakogeorge.

Whilst Pavenham and Sharnbrook shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw, James Owen on target for the home side against a reply from Jordan Baxter.

Division One supported by Wests Citroen Bedford

For leaders Sundon Park Rangers it was a first league defeat of the season when beaten 4-3 at Henlow who were claiming their fifth home win on the bounce. Matthew Standen, Antony Bowskill, Keith Milburn and Arin Fehmi were on the home scoresheet against Rangers replies via Aiden Dawson, Nash Bennett and Matthew Conway.

Now just three points behind them and with two games in hand are second place Stevington who retained their unbeaten home ways with a 1-0 victory over Potton Town who were losing for the first time in seven starts, Joe Kvilum netting the vital goal. W

hilst now in third place are Queens Park Crescents who were gifted the three points when second from bottom of the table Houghton Athletic failed to raise a side to visit them in Allen Park.

Losing out on that third spot were Meltis Albion who, despite taking their unbeaten ways up to five games, were held to a 0-0 home draw by bottom of the table AFC Oakley M&DH Reserves. Whilst fifth place AFC Kempston Town & Bedford College were also gifted three points when Ickleford failed to raise a side to host them at Stotfold Recreation Ground.

For Shefford Town & Campton Reserves it was an end to their five game unbeaten league run when going down 4-2 at Westoning. Tom Cooksley twice plus single strikes from Shaun Cooksley and Daniel Riddaway on the home scoresheet against Town replies via Sam Kelly and Liam Radley.

Division Two

The new leaders of division two, albeit on goal difference, are Cople & Bedford SA who won 7-0 at bottom of the table Marston Shelton Rovers Reserves who were suffering their seventh straight defeat. Ollie Hughes led the way with a hat-trick supported by single strikes from Daniel Lupton, Paul Nigro, Ben Marwood and Brett Allen.

This saw them take over the top spot from Cranfield United Reserves who lost their unbeaten away ways when going down 1-0 at Bedford United whose lone goal came via Carmelo Colucci in the 89th minute.

Elsewhere third place Flitwick Town Reserves, despite taking their unbeaten ways up to eight games, lost ground on the top two when held to a 2-2 home draw by fourth place Atletico Europa. Mark Bartlett and Sam Johnson were the Town marksmen against Europa replies via Harlem Chambo and Kane Alexander.

Now unbeaten in their last four home starts and on a three game winning run are Kempston Hammers Sports who sent Lea Sports PSG to their fourth consecutive away defeat when beating them 4-3. Dan Havil netted twice to go alongside single goals from Shaun Winkonek and Robert Gay against PSG replies via Ryan Darby from the penalty spot plus strikes from Jordan Yearwood and Will Tyler.

For Wootton Village it was a return to winning ways for the first time in nine outings when winning 2-0 at second from bottom of the table Kempston Athletic. Sam King and Sam Mulvaney netting the goals to do the damage.

Division Three

Wixams are now within a point of lifting the title after they took their unbeaten ways up to seven games with a 1-0 victory at AFC Dunton thanks to a goal from Charlie Collier.

The only side that can now deny them the title are third place Wilstead who chalked up win number eight on the bounce with a 3-0 home victory over Caldecote Reserves who were losing for the first time in 11 starts, Luke Pursey, Sam Ward and Lewis Duffield netting the goals to do the damage.

After five straight defeats White Eagles returned to winning ways with a 3-1 home victory over bottom of the table Clifton, Marcia Ptak netting twice and Kazimierz Orzechowski once against a lone reply from Dale Houghton.

Whilst following four straight defeats Shefford Town & Campton A also returned to winning ways with a 2-0 home win over second from bottom of the table Meltis Albion Reserves who have now lost their last eight away outings. Jake Brown and Conner Farndon were the home goalscorers.

Division Four

Fourth place Caldecote A, in taking their unbeaten ways up to eight with a 3-2 home victory over Polonia Bedford, ensured Mid Beds Tigers will have to at least wait until the two sides play each other at Harvey Close next weekend before they claim the league title.

Jake Bruce twice and Christian Lamb were on the home scoresheet against replies from Marcia Szarycz and Wojciech Plizga.

Whilst Flitwick Town A saw their five game unbeaten run ended when beaten 7-2 at AFC Kempston Town & Bedford College A who were winning for the first time in five starts. Giovanni Mascartiolo led the way with four goals, joined on the scoresheet by Jack Connelly, Farid Mirzai and Nico Stanchev against Town replies via Stuart Harvey and Stuart Kemp.

Watson Shield Second Round

Lidlington United Sports will now travel to face Bedfordshire Saturday Youth League Ampthill Town at the Quarter-final stage after netting a 2-1 home win over Sandy Reserves. Marcus Ingham was the Sandy goalscorer.